3 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect?
Every week goes by and you are more excited about the development of your baby. Although it’s fair to be scared or be unsure of what you are feeling at this moment. Your baby is developing fast and you must be aware about everything possible for this stage. Scroll below and find out about the exciting foetal development in the 3rd week of pregnancy and other pregnancy milestones that you have achieved or are yet to achieve during this week through this article.
Baby’s Growth During Pregnancy – Week 3
Good news? – The foetus is already under development. Although, during this week your baby is just a tiny ball with hundreds of cells that are multiplying rapidly. The part of the tiny ball (or blastocyst) that will develop into a placenta starts producing pregnancy hormone (HCG) in the 3rd week of pregnancy. This hormone stops the further production of eggs and triggers an increase in the production of estrogen and also progesterone. These hormones actually make sure that your ovary doesn’t shed the uterine lining. Hence, keeping your little blastocyst safe and sound in your uterine lining during the 3rd week. It also receives oxygen and nutrients through the tunnels that connect the little ball of cells to the blood vessels in the uterine wall.
What is the Baby’s Size?
This third week is really crucial as during this week the fertilized egg safely implants itself in the uterine lining. It then starts developing with the help of oxygen and nutrients that it receives through the blood vessels of the uterine lining. The development is so overwhelming and interesting at the same time but more interesting. Although the size of the baby is pretty negligible. In technical terms, baby’s length is 0.0in and baby’s weight is 0.0gm.
3-week Symptoms of Pregnancy
Symptoms of pregnancy differ from woman to woman but here are a few common symptoms that may help you to find out a week before the pregnancy test that you are pregnant.
- Swollen or tender breasts
- An elevated sense of smell
- Constant exhaustion
- Frequent urination
- An all-time elevated basal body temperature
- Dislike towards selective food
- A lurking sense of vomiting (nausea)
- Bleeding (or to be more accurate spotting, while the egg implants itself in the uterine lining)
The body changes during pregnancy are drastic from the beginning till the end.
There are plenty of symptoms outside and there are more that goes inside the body and mind. Each of these symptoms tend to change and heighten with each passing week of pregnancy. Some body changes that continues and heightens by third week of pregnancy are – Tender breast (soreness), elevated basal body temperature, loss of appetite, and exhaustion.
3 weeks pregnant belly
This is the time when you can keep your secret for a little longer (if you wish to). Guess why? During the third week, although you will definitely see minor body changes but a growing belly will not be one of them. You will spot your belly to be bloated but do not assume it to be a pregnancy belly. The baby has still not started growing, hence the belly size may not increase.
3 Weeks Ultrasound
You want to know all about your little bundle as it grows and your ultrasound may just show you that. But at three weeks you cannot expect something very particular of course. At this stage, your baby is a very tiny fertilized egg called the morula. It is as small as a grain of salt. It is also on the move all the time and hence very difficult to be detected during the ultrasound. Although, by 4th week you may be able to see a thicker uterine lining confirming that the morula has reached its destination and is safe and secure in the uterus for the precious next nine months period.
PREGNANCY CHECKLIST AT 3 WEEKS PREGNANT
Reminders for the week:
- You must calculate your due date
- Take an early result pregnancy test
- Keep taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid daily (after doctor’s advice)
- Read up on the first trimester
- Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
- Don’t shop for clothes yet. You will fit into your current clothes for next few weeks.
- Add a comfortable cotton bra to the list to ease out the soreness of your breasts.
- Don’t take stress at home or at work especially at this phase. It can hinder the development of your baby.
Also read: 1 week Pregnant: What to expect?
